The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 20 × 20 cm
Diet
Decaying leaves, wood & organic matter · Leaf litter always; supplement veg lightly
Temperature
24–27°C
Humidity
~90%
Identity
Order / Family
Polydesmida
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; no CITES listing
Difficulty
Intermediate
Commonality
Iconic Thai species; sporadically available
Adult size
2.5–4 cm
Lifespan
2–3 yrs
Growth rate
Moderate
Activity & niche
Diurnal-ish surface crawler on bark/leaf litter
Temperament
Docile, active
Venom / defense
Harmless to humans; secretes cyanide (hydrogen-cyanide) defensive fluid — wash hands, avoid eyes
Price (THB)
100–350
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–27°C
Humidity
~90%
Min. enclosure
30x20x20 cm horizontal for a group
Substrate
3–4 cm damp soil + decaying wood + leaf litter
Hides / decor / water
Cork bark, moss, leaf litter; humid, well-planted
Diet
Staple food
Decaying leaves, wood & organic matter
Feeding frequency
Leaf litter always; supplement veg lightly
Supplements
Cuttlebone / calcium available
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Look-don't-touch; if handled, clean hands only, avoid eyes (cyanide secretion)
Communal
Yes – best kept in small groups
Defense / stress signs
Curling, almond-scented cyanide secretion
Reproduction
Reproduction
Lays eggs in substrate; short generations
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsSensitive to dryness; short natural lifespan
Red flags / quarantine
SignsWild-caught; quarantine, maintain very high humidity
Good to know
- Its hot-pink 'dragon' spines warn predators of cyanide — it smells of almonds when stressed.
Others in this group
Giant African MillipedeArchispirostreptus gigasThai/Vietnamese Giant Centipede (Yellow-leg / Cherry)Scolopendra dehaaniVietnamese / Asian Giant CentipedeScolopendra subspinipesVietnam Giant MillipedeVietnam Giant millipedeAmazonian Giant CentipedeScolopendra giganteaTanzanian Red-headed / Tiger CentipedeScolopendra morsitansBumblebee MillipedeAnadenobolus monilicornisVietnamese Rainbow MillipedeTonkinbolus dollfusi